Brooklyn Eye

The essence of art is to find your own language as a creator. Talk to the recipient with new things, do not bore him with variations "on a theme", force him to reflect, focus attention.

This is the case with the new album by Joachim Mencel, recorded with American jazzmen from the proverbial TOP. Steve Cardenas, Scott Colley and Rudy Royston are the elite of the New York scene, and our pianist shines against the background of what they do. But not only with virtuosity, the refined taste of phrases or the emotional depth of the composition. It is not without significance that at the source of inspiration for many songs lies the leader's faith, well known to fans of music adoring, for example, the New Life project (new gospel) or the excellent cantata "Love explained everything to me" to the words of Karol Wojtyła with the participation of Lee Konitz and Dino Saluzzi. Here on "Brooklyn eye" it refers directly to Paslim 88, and for me the most beautiful track on the disc is "Come Holy Spirit" ( Come Holy Spirit ).

And since I started with the argument that the creator has to find "this something", what is it on this album? Well, Mencel, next to the piano, perfectly plays a forgotten instrument - the hurdy-gurdy. Yes, this is the instrument with which Wernyhora appears in Stanisław Wyspiański's "Wesele". Mencel brilliantly creates a mixture of sounds with it, which falls out especially charmingly in combination with the guitar and piano. The effect is captivating.

Translated from Polish